In a firm rebuttal to US President Donald Trump’s latest threat of sharply raising tariffs on Indian goods over its continued purchase of Russian oil, India has reminded Washington and its allies of their own extensive trade ties with Moscow. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday termed the criticism from the West “unjustified and unreasonable”, asserting that India’s decisions are guided by national interest and economic security.
“The targeting of India is unfair when those pointing fingers are themselves indulging in trade with Russia — even when such trade is not a vital compulsion,” the MEA said in a statement. The government clarified that India’s energy imports from Russia were “a necessity compelled by the global market situation”, particularly after traditional oil suppliers diverted their exports to Europe amid the Ukraine crisis.
MEA Points to Western Trade Figures With Russia
Backing its stance with data, India drew attention to the European Union’s booming trade with Russia despite public posturing against it. “In 2024, the EU had bilateral trade worth €67.5 billion in goods and €17.2 billion in services with Russia — significantly more than India’s total trade with Moscow in that year or any year after,” the MEA highlighted.
Official statement of the Ministry of External Affairs
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It also underscored Europe’s record-breaking import of 16.5 million tonnes of Russian LNG in 2024, surpassing the 2022 record of 15.21 million tonnes. Additionally, Europe’s imports from Russia included critical sectors such as fertilisers, mining products, chemicals, machinery, and iron and steel.
The statement further spotlighted the United States’ ongoing imports from Russia, noting its continued purchase of uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for EV manufacturing, and other chemicals and fertilisers.
India Defends Its Energy Strategy Amid “Unreasonable” Criticism
India stressed that its pivot to Russian oil was a response to market dynamics triggered by the Ukraine conflict, where discounted Russian crude became available after Western sanctions. The government reiterated that at the time, the United States had even “actively encouraged” India to maintain its Russian imports to stabilise global energy prices.
“India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security, like any major economy,” the statement asserted.
President Trump, in a post on Truth Social, had earlier warned of a steep tariff hike on Indian goods, stating, “I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.” He has already announced a 25% duty on Indian imports starting August 7 and threatened to impose up to 100% tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil unless Moscow agrees to a peace deal with Ukraine by August 7–9.
India, which historically sourced most of its oil from the Middle East, shifted gears after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 led to a realignment in global energy markets. The government has made it clear that its energy policies will remain driven by strategic and economic imperatives rather than external pressure.
